Tales of Loss and Guilt: 16 Short Stories

A diverse collection of 16 quality short reads based on the themes of loss and guilt, ranging from tense thriller to emotional drama to comic farce.Praise for just some of the short stories included here:One of those stories that gives me food for thought (Guilt’s Beady Eye).I can hear the narrator’s every word and the scene setting is adroit (Choice but No Choice).The emotion is involving and Ray uses it skilfully (Scents of Loss). --- Sue Moorcroft, Author and Writers' Forum Fiction Competition Head Judge.Wonderful dialogue (A Bridge too Near).Excellent characterisation, all the characters are well-drawn (Doorstep Challenge).Effortless Dialogue (Sweet Celestial Caress). --- Lorraine Mace, Author and Writers’ Forum Fiction Competition Judge.Most of these stories have been shortlisted for prizes, five are winners. All have been revised and reworked for Kindle publication.Praise for Ray Kingfisher:Surely a born storyteller, he seems to be able to assume a voice at will. --- Sue Moorcroft, Author and Writers' Forum Fiction Competition Head Judge.Has a lovely, easy to read style. --- Lorraine Mace, Author and Writers’ Forum Fiction Competition Judge.Story titles and details:Guilt's Beady Eye - a gritty urban thriller.Fourth Impressions - a twisting comic drama.Scents of Loss - a heartbreaking drama unfolds from the innocence of a young woman taking her dog for a walk.Choice but No Choice - a tense thriller set high above America's midwest.Doorstep Challenge - a humorous modern parable.The Turning Point - an eerie supernatural thriller set near Stonehenge at Winter Solstice.A Bridge too Near – an urban comic farce of one too many encounters.Knife-Edge Decision – a young girl is pushed too far and seeks revenge.It's Good to Talk, So Make Someone Happy with a Phone Call – a poignant suburban comedy.Snowed In – a creepy drama set in icebound Canada.Last Gasp – a whimsical reflection on attitudes to the elderly.Hot Smoke in a Cold Climate – a portrait of a relationship on the edge.Part of a Plan – an unsettling mystery story set on a beach somewhere near you.Christmas Without Captain Coral – a crime mystery with a heavy dose of gallows humour.The Lucky One - an elderly woman tries to come to terms with her memories of the holocaust.Sweet Celestial Caress – a warm mystery story gradually reveals itself.A few of these stories contain the occasional swear word or sexual reference.